Reverend Dr. Diana L. Swoope

Reverend Dr. Diana L. Swoope is an ordained minister with the Church of God, Anderson, Indiana. She has served on the staff of the Arlington Church of God in Akron, Ohio since 1981. She is currently the New Senior Pastor of the Arlington Church of God. Reverend Swoope received a B. S. in Science (Biology, Chemistry) from Memphis State University, a Master of Religious Education from Anderson School of Theology, and a Doctor of Ministry from Ashland Theological Seminary, where she served as an Adjunct Professor in Youth Ministries for a short period. Dr. Swoope is also a member of the Leadership Akron Class of 1990. She has been the founder or impetus behind the creation of several programs for her church and the community. She was instrumental in implementing the EVE program, a rites of passage course for young ladies ages 9 to 16. She founded the Summer Educational Employment Program, which helped hundreds of youth to secure summer employment in Akron area businesses for more than fifteen years.

Reverend Dr. Diana L. Swoope co-founded the Arlington Christian Academy, which is a chartered elementary school that enrolls students from Kindergarten through the Eighth Grade. She has served as its Principal since 1988. Students from this Academy have excelled in Honors and Advanced Placement classes in High School, and have earned academic scholarships to college. In 1990, Pastor Swoope was the first female elected as president of the National Inspirational Youth Convention of the Church of God, which began in 1938 and has a constituency of more than 5,000 members. Only one other female has been elected to this position subsequently. She has been a frequent speaker for conventions, revivals, and seminars across the USA, Canada, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Bermuda, Australia and South Africa. She is the author of Jesus Our Source (Warner Press Publications, 1997) and Chosen and Highly Favored: A Woman s Sacred Call To Holiness (Beacon Hill Press, 2001), and a contributing author to The Hunger of Your Heart (Partnership Press, 1998) and The First Steps to Ministry (Warner Press, 2001).

Reverend Dr. Diana L. Swoope has served in many offices in the Church of God, most recently serving as the General Secretary of the National Association of the Church of God, Chair of the Business Committee for Church of God Ministries and a member of the Board of Trustees of Anderson University, Anderson, Indiana. She has also served on many community and civic boards or committees. That list includes: The United Way, YWCA, East Akron Community House, A Better Way of Learning, the Mayor s Charter Review Commission, and the 14th Congressional Academy Review Board. Most recently she has been appointed to the boards of the Akron General Medical Center and Project Learn.

Reverend Dr. Diana L. Swoope is the recipient of the Black Woman of Excellence Award from the YWCA; Youth Service Award, Akron Frontiers Club; Harold K. Stubbs Award in Religion; National Council of Negro Women Recognition Award; the Community Service Award, Akron-Summit Community Action Agency; Women of the Church of God Award; Anderson School of Theology Distinguished Alumni Award; and the YWCA s 100 Most Influential Women in Summit County and others. She and her husband Lawrence Allen reside in Copley, Ohio, and have three children, Alecia, Allen (Imani), and Andreco.